In a landmark victory for privacy rights, the High Court has today ruled part of the Government’s flagship surveillance law, the Investigatory Powers Act, is unlawful following a legal challenge from human rights organisation Liberty, represented by Bhatt Murphy.

Today’s judgment means the Government will now have to amend Part 4 of the Investigatory Powers Act so that it no longer breaches people’s rights. The Court has given the government until Thursday 1 November 2018 to do so.

Shamik Dutta at Bhatt Murphy, representing Liberty, said: “This ruling strikes another blow against the unlawful and unnecessary surveillance. We now look to the Government to amend this legislation by November 2018 and in the meantime shall be challenging other aspects of the Act which must be reformed without delay.”